CALCULATED MINIMUM LIQUID FLOWRATES

A New Method for Rich-Phase Absorption Columns

Simon M. Iveson
University of Newcastle
Callaghan NSW 2308, Australia
cgsmi@cc.newcastle.edu.au
Chemical Engineering Education, Fall 2000, 338-343

Abstract
An analytical method is presented for teaching students how to find the minimum
liquid flowrate in rich-phase gas-absorption problems. The analytical solution is found
by deriving explicit analytical expressions for the location and slope of the operating
line in terms of only one variable, and then solving for the liquid flowrate that gives
only one point of intersection with the equilibrium line. This can be used alongside the
more traditional graphical method which requires students to convert the
concentrations into solute-free ratios. Students seem to find this method easy to
understand, and it is well suited for use in computer packages. The method is limiting
to cases where an analytical expression for the equilibrium line is known and can be
assumed constant along the length of the column (ie. isothermal operations).
Keywords: Minimum liquid flowrate, gas absorption, gas stripping

Introduction
The McCabe-Thiele method for analysing binary absorption and stripping problems is
taught as a standard part of most undergraduate chemical engineering degrees. The
case of mutually insoluble carrier streams is usually considered first, with the problem
set out as illustrated in Figure 1. V and L are the mole (or mass) flow rates of the
vapour and liquid streams (or light and dense streams in the case of liquid-liquid
extraction), a and b refer the top and bottom of the column, and x and y are the mole
(or mass) fractions of the soluble component in streams L and V respectively [1].
The operating line is obtained by performing a material balance around stages 1 to n of
the column:1
y V x a La
L
y x a a
(1)
V
V
In general this is a curved line, although for lean-phase systems (where the
concentration of the soluble component is always less than 10%) the magnitude of the
stream flowrates, L and V, remain nearly constant and so the operating line can be
approximated as a straight line:
L
x xa
V

y ya

(2)

Students are often required to determine the theoretical minimum liquid flowrate, La,min,
required in order to achieve a desired separation. This is the liquid flowrate at which an
infinite number of stages would be required and it occurs when the operating line just
touches the equilibrium line (the pinch point).
1

For staged problems the compositions and flows entering and leaving the control volume below stage
n are usually written as xn,yn+1,Ln and Vn+1. In this paper will use the symbols x, y, L and V which are
for packed columns, but the two sets of terms are interchangeable.

Iveson, S.M., Calculating Minimum Liquid Flowrates, Chem. Eng. Educ., Fall 2000, 338-343

For lean-phase problems, the solution is trivial. The student only needs to draw a
straight operating line from the known conditions at the top of the column (xa,ya) which
just touches the equilibrium line. If the equilibrium line is also straight (eg. Henrys law
y= mx) then this will occur at end b of the column where Lb leaves in equilibrium with
the entering gas Vb at the point xb=yb/m (Figure 2a).
However, for rich phase systems (concentrations greater than 10%) the operating line
has significant curvature because the ratio of L to V varies down the length of the
column. In this case, assuming the required operating line passes through the point
(yb/m, yb) may not always be correct. If the operating line is concave up then it is
possible that the operating line may cut the equilibrium line at some point between ya
and yb (Figure 2c), and so the operating line through (yb/m, yb) gives too low an
estimate of La,min. What is more, the student only becomes aware of this error if they
take the time to plot the operating line for the minimum liquid flowrate case, whereas
they often without checking go on to solve the main part of the question which
involves calculating the number of stages required when La is some multiple of La,min.
In this case where the operating line is concave up (or concave down for stripping
problems), to find the operating line which just touches the equilibrium line the
students must either adopt a lengthy trial and error approach, or else they must solve
the problem graphically [2,3] by first converting the problem into mole (or mass)
ratios, X and Y, where X = x/(1-x) is the moles of solute per mole inert carrier fluid and
Y = y/(1-y) is the moles of solute per mole of inert carrier vapour (0 < X,Y < ). When
mole ratios are used, the liquid and vapour flow rates are given as L =(1-xa)La and
V =(1-y)Va, the moles of solute-free liquid and vapour flow respectively. For mutually
insoluble solute streams, L and V remain constant, and so the operating line is a
straight line given by the equation:
V Y Ya L X X a
(3)
Once the equilibrium data has also been converted into mole ratios and plotted, the
minimum condition can easily be found graphically using a ruler to find the straight line
starting at (Xa, Ya) which touches the equilibrium line. The slope of this line is L / V ,
from which La,min can be calculated.
This paper presents a new analytical approach for finding the minimum liquid flowrate
in rich phase problems which does not require converting the problem into mole ratios.
The new method requires that an analytical expression for the equilibrium line be
known and that this remains constant through the length of the column ie. the column
must be operating isothermally. This method involves re-arranging equation (1) into an
explicit expression for y in terms of x and solving to find the point at which it just
touches the equilibrium line. This analytical method can be taught to students to
complement the traditional graphical approach.

The New Method

In most text books, the equation for the operating line is left as shown in equation (1).
This equation cannot be used immediately to solve for y in terms of x, because L and V
are both also functions of x for the rich phase case.
Since the flow of inert carrier fluid remains constant for mutually insoluble streams, (1x)L = (1-xa)La. Therefore:

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(1 x a ) La
(4)
(1 x )
A total material balance around stages 1 to n gives V = L + Va - La, which using
equation (4) may be re-written as:
(1 x a ) La
V
Va La
(5)
(1 x )
Substituting equations (4) and (5) into equation (1) and re-arranging gives an explicit
equation for y in terms of x as the only variable:
L

La

Va

x x a y a 1 x
y aVa x a La x ( La y aVa )

Va x a La x ( La Va )
La

x x a 1 x
Va
Equation (6) can also be differentiated to give the equation for the slope of the
operating line at any point:
La

1 x a 1 y a
V
LaVa ( x a 1)( y a 1)
dy

a
2
2
dx Va x a La x ( La Va )
La

x x a 1 x

Va

(6)

(7)

Equation (6) is simple to derive, requiring only algebraic substitution and rearrangement of equation (1) or (3). However, although trivial to derive, it is not
presented in this form in any of the standard introductory texts on separation processes
[1-5]. Its usefulness lies in the fact that as an explicit function for y in terms of x, it is
easy to differentiate, giving equation (7) which is novel. Equations (6) and (7) are
extremely useful because they can be used directly to solve for y and dy/dx at any point
down the column in terms of only one variable, x. Choosing end a of the column as the
reference point was arbitrary. These equations can equally well be written in terms of
end b (or in terms of any other known point along the length of the column) by simple
substitution of Lb for La, xb for xa, etc.
Provided that we have an analytical expression for the equilibrium relationship which is
constant through the length of the column, these two equations can now be used to
analytically find the minimum liquid flowrate, La, min, required to achieve a given
separation. The simplest case where the equilibrium line is given by Henrys law (y* =
mx), will now be considered as an example.
La,min occurs when the operating line and equilibrium line touch at a single point
between ya and yb. This intersection point can be found analytically and is given by (see
Appendix A):
La ,min
2 4

Va
2

(8)

where = (1-mxa)2, = 4m(ya+xa)-2(m+ya)(mxa+1) and = (m-ya)2. For stripping

problems where the operating line is below the equilibrium line, Vb,min is found by
equation (9):
Lb
Vb ,min

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2 4
2

(9)

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where = (1-mxb)2, = 4m(yb+xb)-2(m+yb)(mxb+1) and = (m-yb)2.

To decide whether using equation (8) or (9) is necessary, it is first required to check
whether or not the pinch point lies between ya and yb, or at yb. The general solution
strategy for finding La,min in any rich-phase gas absorption problems is as follows.
Step 1. Begin by assuming that the pinch point where the operating line just touches
the equilibrium line is at the base of the column. Therefore xb = yb/m and La is found by
an overall material balance around the column:
In
= Out
(at Steady State).
Solute:
ybVb + xaLa
= xbLb + yaVa
Inert Liquid: (1-xa)La
= (1-xb)Lb
Re-arranging and solving for La gives:

La

1 xb ybVb yaVa
xb xa

(10)

Step 2. Calculate the slope of the operating line at xb = yb/m using equation (7).
Step 3a. If the slope of the operating line at xb = yb/m is less than the slope of the
equilibrium line (i.e. dy/dx < m). This indicates that the operating line has crossed the
equilibrium line from above, as shown in Figure 2b, so the La found in Step 2 is the
correct La,min.
Step 3b. If the slope of the operating line is greater than the slope of the equilibrium
line (i.e. dy/dx > m), then this indicates that the operating line is intersecting the
equilibrium line from below, as shown in Figure 2c. In this case equation (8) is then be
used to find the correct minimum liquid flowrate.
For stripping problems, the operating line lies below the equilibrium line and the full
conditions are known at end b, but not end a. The aim is to find Vb,min and the
requirements for the slope of the operating line at the point of intersection are
reversed. The solution procedures for both absorption and stripping problems are
summarised in Table 1. A worked example problem illustrating both this solution
procedure and the traditional approach is given in Appendix B.
The above solution procedure can be easily adjusted to consider other analytical
expressions for the equilibrium line, y* = f(x). If the equilibrium line is given by
equilibrium data which does not readily fit any simple analytical expression, then the
student has no choice but to convert the problem into mole ratios and solve
graphically.

Discussion
The new method proposed is fully analytical. However, the intuitive understanding
behind the derivation which students need to appreciate is based on a graphical
understanding of the problem. Hence, it cannot replace the traditional graphical
approach using solute-free coordinates. It is, however, complimentary and provides
students with a different set of tools for tackling such problems. In addition, the
derivation of this method serves to remind students that the basic tools of analytical
geometry they learnt at school can be applied to apparently unrelated engineering
problems.

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Although no formal survey of students was performed, the authors informal

impression after lecturing one class has been that many of them preferred to use
analytical expressions, rather than having to convert the problems into mole ratio units
and then use graphical methods.
Equation (6) is not only useful for finding the point at which the operating line touches
the equilibrium line. It can also be used to help plot the curved operating lines that
occur in any rich-phase problem. This is required in order to be able to step off the
number of stages via the McCabe-Thiele method, or to perform the numerical
integration required to find the number of transfer units in a packed column.
Even if the full analytical method is not used, the equation for the slope of the
operating line, equation (7), is valuable because it enables students to test whether the
end point (yb, yb/m) is the correct pinch point without having to plot the full operating
line.
Equations (8) and (9) are also potentially useful for software packages for computer
based learning packages where each student in a class can be given different computer
generated problems to solve independently and then enter their answers into the
computer for checking.

Conclusion
Explicit equations for the operating line and its slope in rich-phase gas absorption and
stripping problems have been derived with x as the only variable. These expressions,
although trivial to derive, are not presented in any of the standard introductory texts on
separation processes. They have been used to develop a new analytical method for
finding the minimum liquid flowrate in rich-phase problems without needing to convert
the problem into solute-free coordinates and then use graphical methods.
The method presented is restricted to cases where there is an analytical expression for
the equilibrium line, which remains constant along the length of the column (ie.
isothermal operations). It is also required that the two carrier phases are mutually
insoluble. The method is ideally suited for use in computer packages for teaching
students how to solve these problems. The explicit equation for the operating line is
also useful for plotting the curved operating line in order to step off the number of
equilibrium stages via the McCabe-Thiele method, or for numerical integration to find
the number of transfer units in packed columns.

References
1. McCabe, W.L., J.S. Smith and P. Harriot, Unit Operations in Chemical
Engineering, 5th Ed., McGraw-Hill (1993).
2. Treybal, R.E., Mass Transfer Operations, 3rd Ed., McGraw Hill (1981).
3. Sherwood, T.K., R.L. Pigford and C.R. Wilke, Mass Transfer, McGraw-Hill
(1975).
4. Coulson, J.M. and J.F. Richardson, Chemical Engineering, Volume 2: Particle
Technology and Separation Processes, 4th Ed., Pergamon (1991).
5. Edwards, W.M., Mass Transfer and Gas Absorption in Perrys Chemical
Engineers Handbook, 6th Ed., R.H. Perry and D. Green (eds), Mc-Graw-Hill
(1984).

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Appendix A: The Analytical Solution for Lmin or Vmin

The minimum liquid or vapour flowrate occurs when the operating line just touches the
equilibrium line y = mx between ya and yb. This point occurs when the two lines
intersect, which from equation (6) is at:
La

x x a y a 1 x
Va

y mx
(A1)
La

x x a 1 x
Va
Re-arranging in terms of x gives:
L

L
x 2 m a 1 x m ya a mxa 1 a xa ya 0
(A2)
Va
Va

Va

This is a quadratic equation of the general form ax2+bx+c=0. We want the case where
the operating line only just touches the equilibrium line. This occurs when there is only
one point of intersection which is at b2-4ac = 0. This gives:
La

Va

La
Va

1 mxa 2

4m ya xa 2 m ya mxa 1 m ya 2 0

(A3)

This is a quadratic equation of the form (La/Va)2+(La/Va)+ = 0 which can be solved

for La/Va to give:
2 4
La

Va
2

(A4)

where = (1-mxa)2, = 4m(ya+xa)-2(m+ya)(mxa+1) and = (m-ya)2. Unfortunately the

square root term does not simplify, so equation (A4) is best left in terms of , and .
Equation (A4) gives two solutions for La/Va when the operating line just touches the
equilibrium line at one point. However, only one of these is the correct point of
touching between ya and yb. For absorption problems, the negative root should be
taken, which will give the solution for (La)min/Va. For stripping problems, , and
should be written in terms of xb and yb and the positive root taken to give the solution
for Lb/(Vb)min.

Appendix B: Worked Example comparing the New Method and the

Traditional Graphical Method
Problem:
A dry cleaning plant produces an air stream containing 2 mol% acetone. Regulations
require that the concentration of acetone be reduced below 0.1 mol% before this
stream is released to the environment. This is to be done by absorption with water in a
counter-current packed column. The water enters the column already containing 0.5
mol% acetone. The equilibrium relationship for acetone in air and water is given by y =
0.1246x where x and y are the mole fractions of acetone in the aqueous and vapour
phase respectively. Find the theoretical minimum liquid flowrate required to achieve
this separation (these figures are given as examples only).
Solution:

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First it is necessary to find the flowrate of the gas stream exiting the column. We will
assume that the water and air are mutually insoluble and take a basis of Vb = 100 moles
and use ya = 0.001. At steady state, a material balance around the column on the air
gives (1-ya)Va = (1-yb)Vb from which:
Va = (1-0.02)(100)/(1-0.001) = 98.10
The New Analytical Method:
Step 1.
We will initially assume that the minimum liquid flowrate occurs when the aqueous
stream leaves in equilibrium with the entering gas stream, which gives:
xb = yb/m = 0.02/0.1246 = 0.1605.
Note that since xb > 0.10, this is a rich-phase problem and the operating line will be
significantly curved. Equation (9) can now be used to find La:

La

1 xb ybVb yaVa 1 0.1605 0.02 100 0.001 98.10 10.27

xb xa
0.1605 0.005

Step 2.
Equation (6) is used to find the operating line slope at the point (xb,yb):

La

Va

1 x a 1 y a
10.27
1 0.0051 0.001
dy

98.1

0.142
2
2
dx b L
10.27

0
.
1605

0
.
005

0
.
1605
a
98.1
x b x a 1 x b

V
a

Since dy/dx|b > m, this indicates that the operating line is crossing the equilibrium line
from below, so we have underestimated La,min. Go to step 3b.

Step 3b.
Solve for La,min using equation (7):

= (1-mxa)2 = [1-0.1246(0.005)]2 = 0.9988

= 4m(ya+xa)-2(m+ya)(mxa+1)
= 4(0.1246)(0.001+0.005) 2(0.1246+0.001)[0.1246(0.005)+1)]
= - 0.2484

= (m-ya)2 = (0.1246-0.001)2 = 0.01528

2 4
98.10 0.2484

La ,min Va

0.2484 2 4 0.9988 0.01528

2 0.9988

10.94

Therefore, the theoretical minimum liquid flowrate is 10.94 moles of water per 100
moles of entering gas. Note that this is 6% higher than the original estimate found by
assuming that the liquid exits in equilibrium with the entering gas. The magnitude of
this error depends on the degree of curvature of the operating line.
Traditional Graphical Approach:

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The equilibrium line is plotted on X-Y coordinates, Figure B1, by expressing it as:
Y
X
0.1246
1 Y
1 X

or

0.1246 X
1 1 0.1246 X

The bottom end of the operating line (Xa,Ya) is found by converting xa = 0.005 to Xa =
xa/(1-xa) = 0.00503 and ya = 0.001 to Ya = 0.00100. The top end of the line is at Yb = yb/
(1-yb) = 0.0204. The line through (Xa,Ya) that just touches the equilibrium line is then
found graphically (see Figure B1). From Figure B1, the operating line which just
touches the equilibrium line passes through Xb 0.18 which gives xb = 0.152.
The minimum liquid flowrate is now found by an overall material balance.
In
= Out
Acetone:
ybVb + xaLa
= yaVa + xbLb
0.02(100) + 0.005La = 0.001(98.10) + 0.152(Lb)
1.9019 = 0.152Lb 0.005La
(B1)
Water:

(1-xa)La
0.995 La

= (1-xb)Lb
= 0.848Lb

(B2)

Solving the simultaneous equations B1 and B2 gives the minimum liquid flowrate of La
= 10.97 moles per 100 moles feed gas. This compares well with the exact analytical
solution of 10.94. It should be pointed out that the traditional solution method takes
more time to perform because of the requirement to plot the data.

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List of Figure and Table Captions

Figure 1: Schematic of absorption/stripping column showing definitions of L, V, a, b, x
and y (after McCabe et al. [1]).
Figure 2: Operating and equilibrium line plots for gas absorption: (a) Lean phase with
straight operating line; (b) Rich phase case with operating line concave down; and (c)
Rich phase case with operating line concave up.
Figure B1: Plot of mole ratios X and Y showing the traditional graphical approach to
find the operating line which just touches the equilibrium line.
Table 1: Solution procedure for finding La,min or Vb,min for rich-phase absorption or
stripping problems where the equilibrium line is given by Henrys law and the two
carrier phases are mutually insoluble.

Va,ya

La,xa

a
1
2

V,y

L,x

b
Vb,yb

Lb,xb

Figure 1: Schematic of absorption/stripping column showing definitions of L, V,

a, b, x and y (after McCabe et al., [1]).

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(a) Lean Phase Case

(b) Rich Phase Case (i)

y*=mx

(c) Rich Phase Case (ii)

y*=mx

y*=mx

yb

yb

yb

ya

ya

ya

xb

xa

xb

xa

xa

xb

Y (vapour phase mole ratio)

Figure 2: Operating and equilibrium line plots for gas absorption: (a) Lean phase
with straight operating line; (b) Rich phase case with operating line concave
down; and (c) Rich phase case with operating line concave up.

0.025
Y b = 0.0204

0.02

Equilibrium Line
Operating Line

0.015

0.01
(X a,Y a)
0.005
X b 0.18
0
0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

X (liquid phase mole ratio)

Figure B1: Plot of mole ratios Y vs. X showing the traditional graphical approach
to find the operating line which just touches the equilibrium line.

Table 1 : Solution procedure for finding La,min or Vb,min for rich-phase absorption
or stripping problems where the equilibrium line is given by Henrys law and the

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two carrier phases are mutually insoluble.

Step 1

Absorption Problem
(xa, ya, Va, yb, Vb all known)
Assume xb = yb/m. Calculate:

La

Stripping Problem
(yb, xa, La, xb, Lb all known)
Assume ya = mxa. Calculate:

1 xb ybVb yaVa
xb xa

Vb

Step 2

Calculate dy/dx at (xb,yb) using

equation (7).
Step 3a If dy/dx < m, then La,min is the La
found in Step 1.
Step 3b If dy/dx > m, then La,min is found
using equation (8).

1 ya xb Lb xa La
yb y a

Calculate dy/dx at (xa,ya) using

equation (7).
If dy/dx > m, then Vb,min is the Vb found
in Step 1.
If dy/dx < m, then Vb,min is found using
equation (9).

About the Author:

Simon Iveson received his PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of
Queensland, Australia, in 1997. Since then he has been a research fellow and part-time
lecturer within the Centre for Multiphase Process in the Department of Chemical
Engineering at the University of Newcastle, Australia. His research interests are in the
field of particle technology, with his focus being on the agglomeration of fine particles
by the addition of liquid binders.

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